7.3 magnitude earthquake causes tsunami in Japan

An earthquake early on November 22 shook northern Japan and triggered small tsunamis.

The earthquake occurred in the area where the nuclear disaster occurred in 2011. Photo: USGS

The epicenter of the earthquake, which occurred at around 6 a.m. (local time), was located offshore near the Fukushima nuclear power plant, at a depth of about 10 km. Reuters reported that the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) said the earthquake had a magnitude of 7.3 and people in Tokyo could feel the shaking.

The US Geological Survey later said the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.9.

According to the JMA, tsunami waves of 1 meter high were recorded around the Fukushima plant, and tsunami warnings of up to 3 meters were issued. Images on Japanese television showed ships leaving Fukushima port after the warning.

All nuclear power plants on the coast have been shut down. This is the area where the 2011 earthquake and tsunami damaged the Fukushima plant, causing a radioactive leak into the sea and air.

There has been no confirmation of damage to nuclear power plants but power outages have occurred in some areas, according to a spokesman for Tokyo Electric Power Company.

Japan is prone to earthquakes, accounting for about 20% of the world's earthquakes of magnitude 6 or greater.

In March 2011, a magnitude 9 earthquake, the strongest in Japan's history, triggered a tsunami that led to the worst nuclear disaster since the Chernobyl incident 25 years ago.

According to VNE